Osteopathic Manual Therapy

is a way of detecting, treating and preventing health problems by moving, stretching and massaging a person’s muscles and joints.

Osteopathy is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on their bones, muscles, ligaments and connective tissue functioning smoothly together. Osteopathic Manual Therapists believe their treatments allow the body to heal itself. They use a range of techniques but do not use drugs or surgery.

Osteopathy is a primary health care system, complementary to other medical practices. It is suitable for almost anyone and can contribute to the treatment and management of a wide range of conditions.

Osteopathic Manual Therapists primarily work through the neuro-musculo-skeletal system, mostly on muscles and joints, using holistic and patient-centered approaches.

A core principle behind osteopathy is the idea that the body is an integrated and indivisible whole, and contains self-healing mechanisms that can be utilized as part of the Osteopathic Manual treatment. No part of the body works, or can be considered, in isolation. Relevant psychological and social factors also form part of the process of patient diagnosis.

The key tools for osteopathic diagnosis include listening to the patient’s history, examining muscles and joints and observing movements. A wide range of gentle, non-invasive manual techniques such as deep tissue massage, joint articulation and manipulation are applied therapeutically. Most people who see an osteopath do so for help with back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain or other problems related to muscles and joints. Some Osteopathic Manual Therapists treat a wide range of health conditions, including asthma, digestive problems and menstrual pain.

Osteopathy is a system of diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of medical conditions. It works with the structure and function of the body, and is based on the principle that the well-being of an individual depends on the skeleton, muscles, ligaments and connective tissues functioning smoothly together.

To an osteopath, for your body to work well, its structure must also work well. So Osteopathic Manual Therapists work to restore your body to a state of balance, where possible without the use of drugs or surgery. Osteopathic Manual Therapists use touch, physical manipulation, stretching and massage to increase the mobility of joints, to relieve muscle tension, to enhance the blood and nerve supply to tissues, and to help your body’s own healing mechanisms. They may also provide advice on posture and exercise to aid recovery, promote health and prevent symptoms recurring.

Types of Osteopathy

Cranial Osteopathy

What is cranial osteopathy?

Cranial osteopathy (also called cranial therapy or craniosacral therapy) is one variety of osteopathic manipulative therapies. It stimulates healing by using gentle hand pressure to manipulate the skeleton and connective tissues, especially the skull and sacrum (the large, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column). Cranial osteopathy is based on the controversial theory that the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, has subtle, rhythmic pulsations that are vital to health and can be detected and modified by a skilled practitioner.

Structural Osteopathy

Based on specific principles, structural osteopathy recognizes the importance of the interdependence between the body structure and its function. A dysfunction of a joint or tissue, generally characterized by a decrease in mobility and tightness, will affect the biomechanics and overall function of that area.structural osteopathy Folkestone As a result more strain will be put on the surrounding structures which have to compensate. With time and chronicity, the increased stress resulting from the change in function will progressively cause a restriction of the compensating structure. Similar to falling dominos the process starts again with compensations arising in another area.

Visceral Osteopathy

Visceral osteopathy involves a set of therapeutic techniques that correct violation of the functioning of internal organs. Each organ performs a certain movement, dependent or independent of respiration. Disturbances of their natural rhythm lead to functional failures, to occurrence of pain and to development of disease. Movement of organs is structured relative to each other. So failures in one of them inevitably affect the whole system. Before starting treatment, osteopath determines the position of organs and their level of mobility and evaluates the condition of muscle tissue and ligaments. On the basis of the obtained data he diagnoses. The Osteopathic manual treatment aims at restoring the normal position of organs and bones, strengthening ligaments, improving circulation of lymph, blood and other fluids. As a result of therapeutic effects of the treatment, the body triggers the function of self-healing and development of pathologies stops.

History of Osteopathy

The term ‘osteopathy’ was first used by Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. The origin of the word is from the Greek for bone (osteon) and suffering (pathos).

AT Still (1828-1917) was born in Virginia. He was the son of a physician and Methodist preacher and elected to follow his father into medicine. After studying medicine and a working apprenticeship with his father, he entered the American Civil War (1861-65) as a hospital steward. However, his autobiography suggests that he was able to perform some surgery after showing a degree of medical knowledge and competence.

AT Still also mentions that in his early childhood, he was a persistent headache sufferer, and used to effect some relief by suspending a rope swing between 2 trees and resting his head and neck on it. One of the many experiences which were to be incorporated in the development of osteopathy.

The experiences of some of the basic and dangerous medical practices of the day and the loss of 3 of his children to spinal meningitis in 1864 led Still to the idea that current medicine was ineffective and there had to be another way. He devoted the next 30 years of this life to the development of what would become osteopathy.

After the civil war, Still became known as the ‘Lightning Bonesetter’ and his reputation for the ability to treat many conditions from dysentery to sciatica spread.

The therapeutic system of treatment he devised has its origin in a number of treatment philosophies available at that time. These include phrenology, mesmerism, magnetic healing, bone setting and conventional medicine.

Osteopathy In Canada

In Canada, the titles “osteopath” and “osteopathic physician” are protected in some provinces by the medical regulatory college for physicians and surgeons. of 2011, there were approximately 20 U.S.-trained osteopathic physicians, all of which held a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, practicing in all of Canada] As of 2014, no training programs have been established for osteopathic physicians in Canada.

The non-physician manual practice of osteopathy is practiced in most Canadian provinces.] As of 2014, manual osteopathic practice is not a government-regulated health profession in any province,[and those interested in pursuing osteopathic studies must register in private osteopathy schools. It is estimated that there are over 1,300 osteopathic manual practitioners in Canada, most of whom practice in Quebec and Ontario. Some sources indicate that there are between 1,000 and 1,200 Osteopathic Manual Therapists practicing in the province of Quebec, and although this number might seem quite elevated, many osteopathy clinics are adding patients on waiting lists due to a shortage of Osteopathic Manual Therapists in the province

DIRECTORS

The Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy offers Osteopathic training for health professionals with a 4-year related Health Degree, such as physiotherapists, kinesiologists, etc. CIOT also offers a pre-course evaluation and examination to registered massage therapists with 2200hrs or more.